Tatum Edwards tossed a three-hitter while improving to 24-8 on the year.

Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations

Courtesy: NU Media Relations

05/04/2013

University Park, Pa. - The 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team handed Head Coach Rhonda Revelle her 800th career victory with a 3-1 series-opening victory at Penn State on Saturday.

The Huskers, who have won nine of their last 11 games, were led by junior right-hander Tatum Edwards, who fired a three-hitter and allowed only a single run. Edwards (24-8) did not allow a hit after the third inning, while adding three strikeouts.

Behind Edwards' effort, Nebraska improved to 38-11 on the season and moved to 15-5 in Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers, who tied the school record with their 14th road victory of the season, clinched a top-four seed and a first-round bye for next week's Big Ten Tournament.

Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning despite not recording a hit. The first two batters were quickly retired before junior Taylor Edwards and senior Brooke Thomason worked back-to-back walks. Senior Courtney Breault then hit a ground ball to third that was fielded by Lexi Knief, but her throw to first was wild, allowing both Edwards and Thomason to score on the error.

Penn State got a run back in the bottom of the second. A one-out single turned into a run when Reina Furuya followed the single with an RBI double.

After being retired on just 12 total pitches in the fourth and fifth innings, Nebraska took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Mattie Fowler began the inning with a single. Following a fielder's choice, freshman Alicia Armstrong sacrificed sophomore Jordan Bettiol to second base before senior Gabby Banda delivered a clutch two-out, RBI single.

From there, Edwards faced the minimum to wrap up the victory. Macy Jones (12-16) took the loss for Penn State (14-32, 4-16 Big Ten), despite allowing only one earned run in a complete-game effort.

Offensively, each team managed only three hits. Decker walked and doubled to reach base safely, while Banda produced the Huskers' lone RBi.

Nebraska and Penn State continue their series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.